How to trim an interior door by height

Over time, the swinging flaps are subjected to deformation, and then the question arises how to cut the interior door in height. Such a need appears as a result of subsidence, swelling (in the case of a wooden door leaf), or a change in the level of the floor. After laying laminate or other new flooring on top of the old one, it is also necessary to shorten the interior doors.

Depending on what exactly the door is made of, the methods differ. Most of the questions arise with veneered models. Such a canvas is heterogeneous, and the veneer itself is quite easy to damage when sawn. However, shortening even such doors is allowed, although it will take more time.

Note that it is important to take into account the device itself: hollow products can not be cut by more than 1 centimeter.

Advice from professionals

A solid or MDF cloth can be trimmed from the bottom if it does not have panels or their imitation. In the presence of symmetrical decor, it is better to cut off on both sides, dividing the size of the cut part by 2. These measures are deposited from each edge, without breaking the symmetry of the verti and lower panels. The same is done if you need to reduce the standard width of the door leaf.

Frame hollow doors should not be shortened too much. The product consists of wooden bars having a limited thickness. When performing work, you need to leave at least 1-1.5 cm of frame bar inside the canvas. You can shorten the door as indicated for the design with panels – top and bottom.

When trying to install a standard door in a small opening, the molded materials of the frame are shortened to the standards and fixed in the opening. The dimensions of the sash will have to be adjusted according to the technology described above.

The canvas of the array sometimes swells due to excessive humidity and does not fit well into the frame. You can eliminate this problem with a planer or a grinder (manual milling machine). Remove the canvas, put it on a workbench and treat its edge with a cutting tool, removing a few millimeters of chips from the desired side. Hang up the door and try it out. If the problem persists, retry the processing.

To get an even cut of the array when using a circular saw, you will need a disc with a large number of small teeth. But even under this condition, it will not be possible to cut the veneered product qualitatively. For a canvas made of MDF, it is better to prefer an electric jigsaw, and the work should be performed in compliance with the rules that protect the veneer layer (gluing tape, cutting through the veneer).

If it is possible to use a manual milling cutter, then only it is worth choosing for work. The tool will perform a smooth and clear saw, and the cutting line will not have to be processed additionally either on a massive product, or on an MDF or frame model.

For proper gluing of the edge tape, use PVA glue and an iron. The adhesive layer should be applied to the sawn cloth, let it dry. Apply the tape to the edge of the door and iron through the paper with a hot iron. After cooling, cut off the excess tape with a sharp knife, and lightly wipe the edges with sandpaper.